CD Reviews

Easy Listening Command Performances from "Other" Ray Charles

Anthony G Pizza | FL | 06/13/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A guilty, soothing pleasure to be sure, "Love Me With All Your Heart" is nearly all you'll need from the (no, not that) Ray Charles Singers. Returning to days when easy listening was called "dinner music," Charles and his group softly whispered "I love you" in sterephonically perfect (boy voices on left, girls on right)choral group records that typify the early 60s.Charles took two Italian love songs, sprinkled them with (kinda) rock and roll triplets and a touch of parmesan organ to turn "Ai-de-La" and "Love Me All Your Heart," into hits in 1964. The rest of the album follows suit with similarly sung Italian songs, bossa nova songs, movie and Broadway songs, etc. Charles even joins on an occassional solo. You may have heard his voice or read his name credit before; he'd been a Emmy-winning, TV music arranger for five decades, doing everything from Perry Como's last radio and first TV shows to singing the "Three's Company" theme.Only "Love Me" is definitive; every other song on the LP was better done by everyone from Petula Clark to Louis Armstrong. But fans of that hit, or lounge music will find much to enjoy."

Outstanding arrangements and performance

Anthony G Pizza | 08/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Did not know this was not Ray Charles the piano player but another Ray, although the songs I heard I liked. Thoroughly enjoy listening to this recording."

Love the 'Other' Ray Charles!

J Keistler | Lake Jackson, Texas USA | 01/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I grew up hearing this version of "Love Me With All Your Heart", thinking it was the more famous Mr. Charles. I learned as an adult that there was another, very talented Ray Charles. This music reminds one of the fantastic Anita Kerr singers, just creamy harmony and seamless pleasure. Strange, though, after hearing an early-to-mid-sixties album like this, have we really progressed sonically at all? Couldn't prove it by this CD. I'm sure glad I bought mine before the price shot up!"

A Class Act!

J Keistler | 01/31/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening number, Steve Allen's "This Could Be the Start of Something Big", and each subsequent number, this CD captures the magnificent talent of the Ray Charles Singers and the incredible sound they produced when on the Command record label in the 60's. The Ray Charles Singers' superb talent, coupled with the spectacular sound quality of Command Records, makes for unequaled listening. I'll never forget the first time I heard the Ray Charles Singers on the Command label and this CD brings it all back."